Car-door-locking device



Patented Nov. d, 19224-,

@airs WILLIAIJ F. CREMEAN AND VUILBUB TVI, BSWRTH, F TOLEDO, OHIO.

CARDOOR-LOCKNG DEVICE,

Application led .March 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,432.

.To all i12/0m may conce/mt.'

Be it known that we, lViLLiAM F. Cnniruxiv and Winsen M. Boswoirrn, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Door-Locln ing Devices, of which the following isa specilication.

Cuir invention relates to new and useful improvciiients in oar door locking devices and more particularly to a. locking device for freight Vars having drop bottom doors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a car door supportii'ig and locking device wliiehi may be easily assembled, is relatively cheap to construct, and which may be readily applied to the side of the car body. More. specifically, it is a principal object of the invention to provide means for effectively applying' to a drop bottom car door sufficient force to cause it to assume its position of iinal closure, it being well known that when the doors become slightly distorted or warped, or when the ii'iaterial carried in the car lodges along the edges of the door it is necessary, in order to force the door to its linal closed position, to apply a far greater force than is required to'eflect the initial closing moven'ient of thedoor.

A principal feature of the invention is to provide for a drop bottom car door a. locking device employing a hook which is pivotally mounted on the side o-f the car in such iiianner as to be capable of a slight vertical movement which may be utilized for nioving the door to its final closed position.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a pivotally mounted door supporting hook which is capable ofa slight vertical movement and which is so combined with associated parts that it will be raised slightly when forced to its locked position. y

further feature of the invention consists in constructing a door locking device with a pivotally mounted and vertically movable hook to supportthe door,y in,` combination with a pivotedarni or lever and a link or crank arm for actuating thelatter, the lower end of the link being rotatably mounted on an eccentrically pivoted collar carried by a rotatable dog or cani cooperating with the hook, the arrange-ment being suoli that when the dog is swung to a position for locking the hook in place, the said lever and its actuating link or crank arm will cause .the

hook and the door thereon supported to move upwardly to closed or locked position.v @ther features of the invention residing f Figure l is a side elevationy of a preferred embodiment of the locking `device shown as associated with the side of a car and a drop bottom door, the parts of the-locking deviceL being illustrated yin the locked positiony which they assume ywhen the door is fully closed, and the positions assumed by the elements of the locking- .device for perinittingthe door to open being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure?J is a sectional View o-n the vline Figure 3 `isa sectional view ony theline 1; i i Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Fig.

l but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5, Fig. t. kFigure 6 is a sectional view on thefline 6 6, Fig. 5, two positions of thelocking eain being shown in dotted lines.

Referring particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, l indicates Aa fragmentary portion of the side of a car and 2 is a drop bottom door hinged to .a bracket 3 secured to the car body. The forin of door illustrated is provided on its under side with a transversely extending 'angle iron 4 which preferably is continuous and ar-r ranged parallel to the outer end or edge of the door so as to provide `door supporting arms on opposite sides of the car. The ends of ythe angle iron l project outwardly beyond they respective lateral edges of the door and also beyond the side of the car l, thus affording seats for corresponding pivoted hooks mounted upon thel ear.

As the door locking mechanisms are the saine only one of them will be described.

' Bolted or riveted to the side 1 of the car above the angle iron i is a plate or bracket 5 which is formed'near its upper edge with a f ythe boss 6 extends being in the form of an elongated slot. The hook 7 is therefore not only adapted to swing upon the pivot boss 6 but alsoto move a Aslight distance vertically.

At its right hand lower corner the plate or bracket 5 is integrally formed with another boss 9 on which a cam or dog 10 is rotatably mounted. The dog is provided on its inner side with a hub 11 having an eccentrically disposed pivot opening for receiving the boss 9. .The cam or dog 10 may be. retained in assembled position on the boss 9 by means yof a rivet 12 which passes throughy the boss and Vthrough a. flat washer 14 which overlaps the outer face of the dog adjacent the boss receiving aperture therein. If desired rotation ofthe dog 10 under the influence of gravity' may be prevented by operatively. interposing a spring washer 13 between the dog and the retaining washer 14. As shown in the drawings, the rivets passing Vthrough the lower portion of the plate`v 5 may also extend through a. reinforcing strip or bar 15 positioned on the inner face of the car side 1.

Revolubly vmounted on the eccentric collar or hub 11 of the cam 10 is a link 16 whose upper end is pivotally attached to a lever 1-81which cooperates with the hook 7. The lever 18 is `preferably in the form of a horizontally extending arm or bar provided with a bifurcated end to which the cam actuated link 16 is pivoted by means of a rivet 17. The outer end of the arm or lever 18 is preferably fashioned with a nib 19 which eX- tends under and is adapted to contact with a lug 20 integrally formed on the hook 7. A fulcrum point or pivot for the arm or lever k18 may advantageously be provided by forming thebase plate or bracket 5 with a small perforated boss 21 for receiving a rivet 24 which passes through the lever 18. The plate 5 is also preferably provided with another small boss 23 for receiving a rivet 24, both rivets 24 serving to securely hold in place a strap 22 which overlies the hook 7 and thereby supports it against lateral movement.

Formed integral with the hook 7 and projecting rearwardly therefrom so as to e-X- tend into the path of swinging movement o-f the locking cam 10, is a lug or projection 25. lhen the dog 10 is caused to perform a counter-clockwise rotation to its locked position4 it engages the projection 25 upon the hook and forces and, maintains the door supporting ledge of the hook 7 Linder the horizontal flange of the angle iron door arm 4. During this rotation of the `cam 10 its eccentric hub 11 causes the link 6 to be drawn downwardly which thereby, through the pivoted lever 18, effects a raising of the hook 7 and a consequent movement of the door to fully closed position. It will be noted that when the door is in fully closed position the hook7 is sustained upon the movable arm or lever 18; and it also will be perceived that when the dog 10 is in locked position any tendency of the hook 7 to move downwardly communicates to the locking cam a tendency to rotate in a direction bringing it more firmly into engagement with the lug 25 of the hook, thus effectively counteracting and preventing any accidental downward or door releasing movement of the hook.

lt will be understood that when the dog 10y is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the hook 8 is permitted to drop to its lowest position, being then supported upon the stationary pivot bossy 6 of the plate or bracket 5. hile occupying its lower position the hook 7 may be rotated upon the pivot boss 6 as may be necessary to permit the horizontal flange of the angle iron 4 to come into supported relation with the jaw 26 of the hook so `as to sustain the door temporarily in a position approaching that of final closure. The cam mechanism heretofore desc'ribed affords means of applying great force to the door to move it from this temporary position to fully closed position.

For-the purpose of enabling it to be conveniently rotated the locking cam 10 is preferably provided with an outwardly projecting handle or lug` 10a. By rotating the cam by grasping the handle or by striking this lug with a hammer or other suitable implement the dog 10 may be revolved into firm jamming engagement with the lug 25 at the back of the hook. The camming or eccentric action of the hub 11 enables the necessary lifting force to be applied to the hook 7 in a very eiiicient manner when the cam to which the hub 11 is secured is moved to locked position.

The fiuictions performed by the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 correspond to those performed by the locking device just described; but in the modified form the link and lever are rigidly united to form an integral crank arm or bell crank lever 27. The plate 28, which may be of substantially the same form as the plate or bracket 5 and which maybe similarly secured to the car side 1 by means of rivets, has pivotally mounted upon it a hook 29 whose jawy or ledge is adapted to support-ingly engage the angle iron door arm 4. As in the case of the hook heretofore described, t-he hook 29 is pivotally connected to the plate 28 by a pin and slot connection permitting the hook to move vertically. At its upper end the hook 29 is formed with an outwardly extending lug 30 corresponding in form and function to the similar lug upon the hook 7.

4The plate or bracket 25 is provided at ion its lower right hand corner with a boss v31 on which the cam 32 is revolubly mounted, the cam being integrally united to an eccentric collar or hub 38 which extends into an elongated opening or slot 34E in the lower end ot the crank arm 2T. This crank arm is pivotally mounted as at 85 on a similar boss 36 with which the plate 28 is provided, while the outer1 or hooi: engaging end ot the member 27 is formed with a nib 3i' which extends under and is adapted to engage the lug 30 oi' the hook Q9. The remaining features oil construction of the form ot the device illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar in form and function to the corresponding parts ot the preferred form of locking mechanism shown in vFigs. i, e and e.

Vhen the dog 32v is swung` into engagement with the hook 29 it eltects a rotation et the eccentric hub or collar 33 and the latter cooperates with the slotted end of crank arm 27 to cause the latter to execute a rotation effecting the lifting movement ot the hook 29 necessary to 'raisethe door to linal closed position.

lt will be seen that the looking device, in either ot its forms, is positive in action, is easily operated, and may be readily applied to a car.

Many slight changes might be madewithout in any way departing trom the spirit and scope ot' our invention.

ldlhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. Si car door locking device comprising a pivotally mounted hook which is capable et a slight vertical movement, a rotatably mounted dog, and means cooperating with .said dog` and said hook, whereby when said dog` is rotated it will force the said hook up ardly and hold it in its torwardmost position.

fr. locking device for car doors, comprising a base plate, a hook pivotally mounted on said plate and capable of a slight vert-ical movement about its pivotal point, a rotatable dog also pivotally mounted on said plate and adapted to hold the hoot: in its torwardmost position when said dog swung forwardly, and means extending from the hook to said dog tor raising said hooi; slightly when said dog is thrown torwardly.

,\. ii locking device for car doors comrvling a base plate, a hoolr having a slottharein and mounted on said base plate, a dog` provided. with an eccentric hub mounted on said base plate, said dog being adapt ed to hold said hook in its lforwardmost position when said dog is thrown forwardly, and means mounted on the hub of said dog and cooperating with said hook to elevate said hook when the said dog is rotated `to its. torwardmost position.

r locliing device for drop bottom doors comprising a base plate, av hook having a slot in its upper portion andv swingingly mounted on said base plate, said hook being provided with a lug on its upper portion, a dog provided with an eccentric hub, said dog being mounted on said base plate and holding said hoolr in vits torwardmost position when 'said dog is in its locked pos`itien, and means pivotally mounted on said plate andinounted at one end on the hub of said dog and cooperating with the lng on the upper portion oi the hoolr to thereby elevate the hook when said dog is swung forwardly.

5. )r supporting and locking device for drop bottom doors comprising a base plate, a. hook provided with a slot at its upper end and swingingly mounted on said base plate, a dog provided withy an eccentric hub mounted on said base plate to the rear ot said hook andk holding the hook in' its forwardmost position when the dog is in its locking position., and a link mounted on said hub and having an arm secured at its upper end, said hool; being provided with a lug, the end of the arm passing under the lug on said hook, and said arm being` adapted to raise said hook when the dog is swung to its torwardmost position.

G. In combination with a car having a drop bottom door, a bracket secured to the door and extending oiitwardly beyond the side ot the car body, a ybase plate secured to the carbody above the bracket on the door, a hook pivoted on the said base plate and capable of a slight vertical movement, the lower end ot the hook being adapted to extend under the bracket on the door, a dog provided with an eccentric hub mounted on said base plate and contacting with a rear portion of the'hoolr when said dog is swung forwardly, to thereby hold the hook in engagement with said bracket, and pivotally movablemeans carried by said base plate and mounted atene end on said hub of the dog, the upper end of the hoolr having a projection` formed thereon, the forward end of said pivotallymounted means passing beneath the lug on said hook, and said pivotally' mounted means raising said hook to tightly close the door when said dog is rotated to its locked position.

T. In combination with a car having a drop bottom door, a base plate, ya hook pivotally mounted ron said base plate and capable `of a slight raising and lowering movement, a bracket on said door adapted to be supportingly engaged by said hook, rotatable means carried by said base plate and adapted to hold said hook in engagenient with said bracket, and means operatively rinterposed between said hook and said rotatable means for elevating said hook to thereby move said door to closed lia) an elevating means interposed between said rotatable means and said hook, whereby when said rotatable means is operated the hool'r will oe held against disengagement lirom the bracket on the door and will also lbe elevated to raise the door to a closed position.

9. ln combination with a oar having a drop bottom door, a base plate mounted on the side ot .the car body, an angle iron secured Ito the bottom o1 the door and eX- tending beyond the 'free side ot the door, a hoolr swingingly mounted on said base plate,

vand capable ott a slight vertical movement,

the lower end of said hook being adapted to engage with said angle iron to support the door, a rotatable means mounted to the rear of said hook and adapted to jam said hoolr in its forward position when said rotatable means is swung forwardly, and movable means cooperating with the upper end of the hook and with the said rotatable means .tor lifting the hoolr upwardly when said rotatable means is swung forwardly and for permitting` a lowering movement or' the hool when said rotatable means is swung rearwardly.

l0. ln combination with a car having a drop bottom dooigan angle iron secured to the bottom of the door and extending outwardly beyond the side of the car body, a base plate, a hook swingingly mounted on said base plate and capable of a slight vertical movement, a lug formed on the upper end of said hook, an extension termed on the rear edge ot' the hoolr, a concentrically mounted dog, an eccentric hub on ysaid dog, a link mounted on said hub and an arm secured to the upper end of said link, said arm being pivotally supported on said plate, the outer end of said arm extending beneath the lug formed on the upper end of said hool, and said arm being adapted to raise said hoolr when said dog is swung forwardly to hold the hook in engagement with the bracket on said door.

l1. In combination with a car body having a drop bottom door, an angle iron secured to said door and extending beyond the tree edge thereof, a hook swingingly mounted on the side of the oar and adapted to engage said angle iron, rotatable means for engaging the rear of said hook to look the hook in its iorwardmost position, and means extending l'rom said hook to said rotatable means and operated through movement ot the latter for raising the hook and thereby.

supporting the door in a closed position.

r-L car door looking de-vice including in combination with a swinging door, a pivotet member tor supporting said door, said pivoted member being adapted to be raised with respect to its pivot point, a swinging member adapted to maintain the pivoted member in supporting relationship with said door, and means opera-tively interposed between said pivoted member and said swinging member for raising said pivoted member while the latter is maintained by said swinging member in door supporting relationship with said door.

13. ln combination with a car having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, a movable member adapted to support said door in a closed position and also in a partially closed position, means for supporting said movable member in a position correspondin-O to the partially closed position of said door, and means tor supporting said movable member in a position corresponding to the closed position or' said door, said last named means serving to support said movable member independently of the means by which it is supported when the door is in partially closed position.

let. ln combination with a Car having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the inlluence of gravity, a pivoted hook adapted to support said door in a closed position and also in a partially closed position, means forming a pivotal support for said hook when the latter is in a position corresponding to the partially closed position of the door, and means for supporting said hoolr when the latter is in a position corresponding to the closed position of the door, said last named means serving to support said hook independently of said pivotal support.

l5. ln combination with a car having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, movable means adapted to support said door in a closed position and also in a partially closed position, means for supporting said movable means in a position enabling it to support the door in partially closed lposition, and means for supporting said movable means in a position enabling it to support the door in closed position, each of said means for supporting said movable means serving independently to support said movable means.

16. ln combination with a car having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, a movable hook adapted to support said door in a Cil closed position and also in a partially closed position, means for supporting said hook in a position enabling it to support the door in partially closed position, and means for supporting said hook in a position enabling it to support the door in closed position, said last named means serving` to relieve said first named means from the load imposed on said hook when the latter supports the door in partially closed position.

17. In combination With a car having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the influence ofi' gravity, a movable hook adapted to support said door in a plurality of positions, and a plurality of Ameans either' of which is adapted to support said hook independently of the other, said hook being movable so to be adapted to be supported by either of said means.

18. In combination with a ear having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the iniiuence of gravity, a pivoted hook adapted to support said door in a plurality ot' positions, a pivotal support for said hook, said hook and said pivotal support having a pin and slot connection whereby said hook maybe raised to effect a closing movement oit' said door, and means for maintaining said hook in raised position.

19. In combination With aI ear having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the iniiuence of gravity, a vertically movable swinging hook adapted to support said door in closed position, and movable means adapted to engage with and disengage from said hook for maintaining the latter in a position corresponding to the closed position of the door, downward movement of said hook when the latter is engaged by said means and the door is supported in closed position being adapted to induce a movement of said means increasing its engaging pressure upon said hook.

:20. In combination with a oar having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, a pivoted hook adapted to support said door in a plurality of positions, a pivotal support for saidfhook, said hook and said pivotal support having a pin and slot connection Whereby said hook may be raised to effect a clos'- ing movement of said door, and lever means adapted to engage with and disengage from said hook 1for raising the latter to effect a closingmoveinent ot the door.

2l. In combination with a oar having a hinged door adapted to swing to open position underfthe influence of gravity, of door supporting means adapted to be swung into and out of supporting relation With said door, a base plate secured to said oar, said door supporting means mounted on said plate, and means for moving said door from a partially closed `to a fully closed position While said door is in engagement with said door supporting means, said means for moving said door involving a cani member movably mounted on said plate and adapted to engage said door supporting means, and handle means whereby` said 0am mem-ber maybe actuated to cause said door supporting means to force said door to lclosed position.

In testimony whereof We aliX our' signatures.

WILLIAM F. CREMEAN. WILBUR M. BOSWORTH.

being movably 

